Pat Bartholomew arrives in Romania for world’s largest church consecration

Patriarchs Bartholomew and Daniel at Bucharest Airport. Photo: Basilica News Agency

On October 24, 2025, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople arrived at Henri Coandă International Airport in Bucharest, where he was welcomed by Romanian Patriarch Daniel. Patriarch Bartholomew came to take part in the celebrations marking the consecration of the National Cathedral – the largest Orthodox church in the world. The ceremony will be co-presided over by Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch Daniel of Romania on October 26.

The event is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate and the 140th anniversary of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s autocephaly. The service will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by hierarchs of Bucharest together with 67 priests and 12 deacons. At 10:30 a.m., Patriarchs Bartholomew and Daniel, together with 65 bishops, will perform the rite of consecration of the cathedral.

The Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation (the church’s official name), rising 130 meters high, is the tallest Orthodox structure in the world – 13 meters taller than the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. It also ranks first among Orthodox churches by floor area. Its interior mosaic decoration covers about 25,000 square meters, making it the largest collection of church mosaics in the world. The mosaic iconostasis, measuring over 400 square meters, is likewise the largest in the Orthodox world.

A team of 220 artists led by church painter Daniel Codrescu worked on the murals. The iconographic program follows the Byzantine tradition and is carried out under the supervision of Patriarch Daniel.

The altar of the cathedral was consecrated back in 2018, during the celebration of the centenary of the Great Union of Romania. On that occasion, the service was also led by Patriarchs Bartholomew and Daniel. “We love our daughter Romanian Church and look forward to personally taking part in the official celebrations in Bucharest next year on the occasion of the centenary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s elevation of the Autocephalous Romanian Church to Patriarchal dignity,” Patriarch Bartholomew said at the time.

On October 27, the feast day of Saint Dimitrie the New, patron saint of Bucharest, Patriarchs Bartholomew and Daniel will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the historic Patriarchal Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.

Construction of the National Cathedral began in 2007 with the blessing of the late Patriarch Teoctist. The project cost approximately 200 million euros, most of which came from the state budget, with the rest raised through donations. After its consecration, the cathedral will be permanently open for worship and pilgrimage. From the evening of October 26 until October 31, the church will remain open around the clock so that the faithful may venerate the newly consecrated altar.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarchs Bartholomew and Daniel would consecrate the National Cathedral in Bucharest.

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